Imprimis Impressive in Shakertown

LEXINGTON, KY –  After a poor break, Imprimis got up late to win Saturday’s Shakertown Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. This was the second consecutive win for the five-year-old son of Broken Vow who remains undefeated in his both of his starts of 2019.

The 8-5 post time favorite, Bound for Nowhere, broke well and went straight to the front. He was joined by Bay Muzik on the inside with Latent Revenge close behind on the outside and Richards’s Boy just off the leaders on the rail. As they hit the turn, Bound for Nowhere looked like he would run clear to the finish and wire the field, setting rocket fast fractions of :21.71, :44.61, and :56.33 as he flew. Imprimis, however, who had been sitting mid-pack following a stumble at the start, took advantage of the speedy pace and exploded into the stretch. Imprimis got up just in time to nab Bound for Nowhere by a neck. Angaston got up with a late stretch run and held on for third while Chaos Theory held on to win the photo for fourth ahead of Will Call.

“(You want) every horse to break good. But today, he stumbled very bad,” said winning jockey Paco Lopez. “I almost fall off. I got in behind horses, and I wanted the long stretch.”

Imprimis is trained by Joseph Orseno and owned by Breeze Easy LLC. This was the first career graded stakes victory for Imprimis who won the Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream his last time out.

“I know he has the tactical speed to be closer, but (jockey) Paco (Lopez) did the right thing.” said trainer Joe Orseno. “When he was just sitting still, that’s all he can do, and just hope he can fire from there. I saw him getting into him going to the half-mile pole, and he looked like he wanted to run. I thought for sure we took the worst of it and we had too much to do. Paco rode a great race after he overcame the stumble.

“(Going to Royal Ascot to run in the King’s Stand [G1] June 18) is the plan, a very exciting plan, and I don’t think it’s ambitious either. The horse has done everything we’ve asked him to do.”

Imprimis returned $7.20 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3.40 to show. Bound for Nowhere brought back $3.40 to place and $3.20 to show, while Angaston paid $10.60 to show.